The Son of Man

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Just as His Deity is important to the Nature of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, so is His Humanity.

The plan of Yahweh was from the beginning to send forth His Son to become a man, clothed with flesh, just as are we.

8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. Revelation 13:8

This verse and others like it reveal the Father's eternal plan, to elect His people for life; and their names have been written from the foundation of the world in this book of life that belongs to the Lamb, Jesus. He was purposed before humanity was created to become one of humanity, to share in their natural life.

Christ Jesus, as the Creator of Man before His incarnation (John 1:1-3), was chosen by His Father to become man as well. From the beginning, Yahweh the Father planned for a union of God and Man. We first see a hint of this in Adam's (Man's) creation, where he was created "in [God's] image and in [God's] likeness." When Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil, God lamented that the one who was like Him had done that which he should have not. The ransom of man from that condition into which he put himself is accomplished through Man Himself, in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Much of the prophecy concerning Christ while terming Him "the Son of Man" then envisions Him as the Savior and Servant of Man.

11For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:11

28even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Seeing where this title for Christ is used will allow us to see what else it means for Him to be the Son of Man.

20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20

This word spoken by Jesus alludes to the wandering nature of Man as he has left and now regains the presence of God. In Christ this is typified, for the One Who walks as was intended for Man from the beginning finds no place to rest. The One God has chosen to reflect His glory cannot find place to lay His head, just as those who follow Christ in His restoration of Man do not find rest in the world.

4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk?’ 6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-” (then he said to the paralytic), “Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.” Matthew 9:4-6

Jesus here shows them the truth that the Son of Man has authority both to heal and restore those in need, both physically and spiritually. In this Christ shows His listeners that the intention of God for Man to reign with Him was not accomplished properly when Adam ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil (Genesis 3:22)—that was not the way for Man to be a ruler under God. But in Christ we see the true purpose fulfilled, that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins just as He has the authority to heal the sick. As we join Him in faith, we too receive this authority (John 20:21-23).

19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” Matthew 11:19

Hearing the rebukes of the masses, Christ responds by showing their childish reason (Matthew 11:16-17). John the Baptizer came preaching but did not drink wine, nor ate fanciful food, and was called demon-possessed by many (Matthew 11:18). The Son of Man came both eating fully and drinking, and He was called a glutton and wine-addict. Jesus, the perfect Man, shows that to both eat and drink—to fully enjoy the natural creation—will be maligned by those who reject Him, only in order to justify themselves in not believing His words. So too we will follow in His footsteps by faith, when we are rejected for our lifestyles of faith that declare all things lawful.

8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8

The Seventh Day, which God set apart and blessed as Sabbath after His six days of creation (Genesis 2:2-3), was to be a day of rest from physical labor, as God rested from His (Hebrews 4:4). Jesus says that He—the Son of Man—is Lord of the Sabbath. To ease hunger as Christ and His disciples did (Matthew 12:1-7) was mercy without guilt. The Son of Man rules over the Sabbath, as it was made for Man, not the opposite (Mark 2:27). Therefore Christ shows Himself as the Perfect Man, who allows the Sabbath that has been blessed to bless him.

40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40

When asked for a sign by disbelievers, Jesus told them of the sign they would receive: the Son of Man would be three days and nights in the heart of the earth, as Jonah was in the whale's belly. Christ as the Perfect Man would confront death, spoil principalities and powers, proclaiming His victory over them, to restore Man to his rightful position as God had intended from creation. The sign that Son of Man would provide would be His own death and resurrection!

37He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Matthew 13:37-39

The Son of Man is the ideal worker, even gardener, just as Adam was created to be (Genesis 1:27-28). He works the land and produces much fruit (John 15:5). He sows it (the world) with good seed (the children of God's Kingdom). The fruit produced lasts forever, as those who are redeemed receive eternal life. In order to harvest that fruit, however, He must send out those (angels) who will separate that good fruit from that which has grown from the bad seed (children of the evil one) sown by the enemy (the Devil).

40As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13:40-43

The Son of Man both plants and prunes the good, and separates and throws away the bad. He reflects God's intention for Man, that he would be a faithful laborer, bringing forth much fruit from the creation God gave him by his dominion over it.

24The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:24

Here we see a sad exclamation by the Lord, that brings to mind that first story of betrayal, the murder of Abel by Cain. Abel, a type of Christ in his bringing to Yahweh the firstfruits of his flock, did good and followed the command of God. Cain, however, simply brought from his crops, not firstfruits, and not an animal sacrifice (Genesis 4:1-5). Rather than receive the correction from Yahweh, he sought to erase Abel to justify himself (Genesis 4:6-8). Here too Judas betrays Jesus rather than receiving the correction from Jesus he had been given, in order to gain acceptance with the Jewish leaders. Jesus, the Son of Man, joins in with the other man, Able, who was betrayed for his good works (Matthew 26:45).

64Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.” Matthew 26:64

The last reference to Jesus as the Son of Man, however, rightly portrays Him as the exalted one that God intended Him to ultimately be. Just as Man was made a little lower than God, and had all things put under his feet by that same God (Psalms 8:4-6), so does Jesus enter this relationship with His Father after entering humanity through Mary. His ultimate end will be a return to that place intended by Yahweh, ruling in the glory of God the Father—and we, as redeemed Man, shall join Him in this glorious and foreordained exultation (Revelation 2:26-28) (Revelation 20:6)!

The "Son of Man" Before Christ's Birth

This imagery of "the Son of Man" is used in several places of scripture before Christ was born upon the earth. Daniel sees a vision of one "like a son of man" as he sees the coming of Yahweh and the judgment of the world.

13“I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom that which will not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

often in the Book of Enoch, which is quoted as prophecy by Jude (Jude 1:14-15) (Enoch 1:9), and was likely written several hundred years before Christ's birth, we see the same reference:

Enoch Chapter 46

Clearly, this was something that God planned from eternity, to send forth His Son, born of a woman to become a man, to be the Son of Man—He would reveal and fulfill what God had destined for Man at his creation. In Him, the fullness of God is seen, and by faith we may enter into this Glorious One, the Lord Jesus Christ, and become the fullness of Man Yahweh intended for us.

8Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; Colossians 2:8-10

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The Good Message

As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.

But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.

This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, Christ Jesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.

You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.

God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.

That Son, Jesus Christ, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.

His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.

The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.

So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.

Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!